M 16
A continuation of the drought of 1928 resulted in a water shortage which became so acute in June as to constitute a crisis. In this month the Government created a water emergency committee on which all classes of the community were represented. The P.W.D., the Sanitary Department and the Medical Department co-operated in an endeavour to make available for the public all necessary supplies of potable water. The Public Works Department opened wells, supplied pumps and constructed temporary storage tanks; the Medical Department and the Sanitary Department arranged for inspection, for analysis and for chlorination. Water was brought by ships from Shanghai, Manila and the upper reaches of the estuary of the Canton River and discharged into tanks on the Praya, where it was chlorinated before delivery. The Tung Wah Charity co-operated with the authorities and constructed storage tanks. The rains in the latter part of July brought the crisis to a close. It is satisfactory to be able to report that there was no appreciable rise in the incidence of water-borne diseases.
With regard to the prevalence of general or non-notifiable disease the only incidence figures available are the returns of the Government Hospitals and the Western clinics of the Chinese Hospitals details of which are to be found in the Appendices D & E of this report. These figures are, however, only a fraction of the whole and too much importance should not be given to deductions made from them. Though the educated Chinese appreciate the value of Western or scientific medicine the great bulk of the population still pin their faith to the time-honoured decoctions prescribed by the numerous herbalists who practise in the Colony. It cannot be denied that many who partake of these remedies recover but there are no statistical figures to show either the prevalence of the various diseases treated or the proportion of recoveries. There may be and there probably are a number of valuable drugs known to the Chinese herbalists and which are not included in any of the Western pharmacopoeias but it is also probable that there are a considerable number which have a reputation they do not deserve. Until there is scientific evidence and statistical proof of the value of the drugs used, Chinese medicine cannot be ranked with Western medicine as being scientific.
Year by year the value of scientific medicine is becoming more and more appreciated by the Chinese both in China and in Hong Kong. Proof of this is the ever-increasing numbers who attend those hospitals where Western or scientific treatment is carried out. A number of those who seek relief at the Government Hospitals or the Western clinics of the Chinese Hospitals have made full trial of Chinese medicines and are well advanced in disease at the time of admission. These advanced cases swell the death rate and have a tendency to prejudice the minds of the ignorant against Western treatment.
M 16
A continuation of the drought of 1928 resulted in a water shortage which became so acute in June as to constitute a crisis. In this month the Government created a water emer- gency committee on which all classes of the community were represented. The P.W.D., the Sanitary Department and the Medical Department co-operated in an endeavour to make avail- able for the public all necessary supplies of potable water. The Public Works Department opened wells, supplied pumps and constructed temporary storage tanks; the Medical Department and the Sanitary Department arranged for inspection, for analysis and for chlorination. Water was brought by ships from Shang- hai, Manila and the upper reaches of the estuary of the Canton River and discharged into tanks on the Praya, where it was chlorinated before delivery. The Tung Wah Charity co-operated with the authorities and constructed storage tanks. The rains in the latter part of July brought the crisis to a close. It is satisfactory to be able to report that there was no appreciable rise in the incidence of water-borne diseases.
With regard to the prevalence of general or non-notifiable disease the only incidence figures available are the returns of the Government Hospitals and the Western' clinics of the Chinese Hospitals details of which are to be found in the Ap- pendices D & E of this report. These figures are, however, only a fraction of the whole and too much importance should not be given to deductions made from them. Though the educated Chinese appreciate the value of Western or scientific medicine the great bulk of the population still pin their faith to the time honoured decoctions prescribed by the numerous herbalists who practise in the Colony. It cannot be denied that many who partake of these remedies recover but there are no statistical figures to show either the prevalence of the various diseases treated or the proportion of recoveries. There may be and there probably are a number of valuable drugs known to the Chinese herbalists and which are not included in any of the Western pharmacopoeias but it is also probable that there are a considerable number which have a reputation they do not deserve. Until there is scientific evidence and statistical proof of the value of the drugs used, Chinese medicine cannot be ranked with Western medicine as being scientific.
Year by year the value of scientific medicine is becoming inore and more appreciated by the Chinese both in China and in Hong Kong. Proof of this is the ever-increasing numbers who attend those hospitals where Western or scientific treatment is carried out. A number of those who seek relief at the Govern- ment Hospitals or the Western clinics of the Chinese Hospitals have made full trial of Chinese medicines and are well advanced in disease at the time of admission. These advanced cases swell the death rate and have a tendency to prejudice the minds of the ignorant against Western treatment.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.